Distribution of blue catfish in Chesapeake Bay tributaries from 199

American Shad (CBP) River

Invasive Catfish

What are blue and flathead catfish?

• Blue and flathead catfish are native to the Mississippi,

Missouri, and Ohio River basins.

• They were introduced into the James, Rappahannock, and

York Rivers in Virginia during the 1960s

• They are now common in most major tidal tributaries in

Virginia and also in some large Maryland tributaries.

• They can live longer than 20 years, and can grow to be

greater than 100 pounds. They prefer freshwater

thrive in brackish waters as well.

• Although both species are considered invasive in the Chesapeake Bay, the

threat of blue catfish is more concerning because of their

populations, rapid range expansion

amounts of native species.

Why are blue and flathead catfish a problem in the Chesapeake Bay?

• Blue and flathead catfish are considered invasive (having the potential to cause

economic and/or environmental harm) in

species have few natural predators in the Bay

fish and shellfish.

• These catfish are quickly spreading

tributary. In some studies on the James and Rappahannock th

to make up 75% of the total fish biomass or 75% of the total weight of all fish

inhabiting that tributary (Schloesser

• As adults, both species feed primarily on fish and shellfish including

crabs. As the catfish in the Bay grow larger

Flathead Catfish (State of Pennsylvania)

Distribution of blue catfish in Chesapeake Bay tributaries from 1996-2012 (Schloesser et al., 2011; Garman

Menhaden River Herring

Blue Catfish (CBP)

Invasive Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay

catfish are native to the Mississippi,

They were introduced into the James, Rappahannock, and

the 1960s-1980s.

They are now common in most major tidal tributaries in

ome large Maryland tributaries.

0 years, and can grow to be

They prefer freshwater but can

Although both species are considered invasive in the Chesapeake Bay, the

threat of blue catfish is more concerning because of their increasing

rapid range expansion, and capacity to consume significant

catfish a problem in the Chesapeake Bay?

considered invasive (having the potential to cause

economic and/or environmental harm) in the Bay watershed. Adults of these

natural predators in the Bay and consume native species of

spreading throughout the Bay into nearly every major

James and Rappahannock they are estimated

75% of the total fish biomass or 75% of the total weight of all fish

inhabiting that tributary (Schloesser et al. 2011; VDGIF; VCU).

ed primarily on fish and shellfish including shad, river herring,

As the catfish in the Bay grow larger, they will consume more native Bay fish.

1

Flathead Catfish (State of Pennsylvania)

, 2011; Garman et al., unpublished data).

Blue Crab

Blue Catfish (CBP)

shad, river herring, menhaden, and blue

2

Gut content analysis of blue catfish shows

multiple blue crabs were consumed (VCU)

Blue Catfish (VIMS)

Maryland Record Blue

Catfish (84 lbs, 52 in,

Potomac River, 8/13/12)

James River Record Blue Catfish

(102 lbs; 2009)

Tagging study to estimate the population of

blue catfish in James River (July 2012, NCBO)

What is being done to address invasive catfish in the Chesapeake Bay?

Policy and Management

• The Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team (SFGIT) is a group of

Chesapeake Bay jurisdictional managers and other fisheries stakeholders that have recognized invasive catfish as

a problem.

• The SFGIT is committed to developing policy options to mitigate their spread while keeping in mind their

recreational and economic value.

• The SFGIT Executive Committee adopted an Invasive Catfish

Policy statement in January 2012, stating “the potential risk posed by

blue catfish and flathead catfish on native species warrants action to

examine potential measures to reduce densities and limit range

expansion, and to evaluate possible negative ecological impacts.”

• The Invasive Catfish Task Force was established by the SFGIT

to coordinate research, increase public awareness, and recommend

policy options to reduce spread and mitigate the impacts of catfish

on valuable Chesapeake Bay resources.

Science

• The SFGIT has sought management driven research to further

understand blue and flathead catfish’s negative impacts on native

species.

• VIMS is working with commercial watermen on a tag and recapture

study in which 15,000 catfish were tagged in July and 5-7% of the

fish were since recaptured. 900 fish have been processed and they

are now analyzing these data using appropriate models.

• VCU is working on the attached “Catfish Portal” that will show the

current locations of blue and flathead catfish, potential habitable

areas, and areas of concern for protection.

• VCU is also working on a predation study to further determine the

diet composition of blue catfish.

• VIMS is researching contaminant concentrations in blue catfish that

will be used to evaluate the efficacy of using fisheries as a

population control strategy

James River Electrofishing

Surveys (upwards of 6000

catfish/hour)

3

Catfish Portal (In Development)